10 Cool DIY Painting Projects That Will Give Your Old Home New Life

We could all use a little pick-me-up every now and then – and so could our homes. And – when it comes to a home decor refresh – a bit of paint and some DIY ingenuity can go a long way. From inexpensive DIY painting kitchen cabinets ideas to DIY painting furniture for a custom look, if your home is looking and feeling a bit tired, try one of these simple painting projects for a fun, fresh update.

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Shut the Front Door

Never overlook the power of a first (and last) impression. The entryway and front door are often overlooked, but giving these areas a fresh coat of paint in a new hue can totally transform the feel of your home.

mid-century modern home office with artistic accent wall

Behr: Chic Gray PPU26-10, Priceless Coral M180-4, Resort...

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Accentuate the Best Features

If blank walls are leaving your space feeling uninspired, your first instinct is likely to add in some colour and dimension. But, before you start shopping for frames, step back and look at the bigger picture – why not make the whole wall into a work of art? Create a DIY accent wall with a bold contrast colour to spice things up or consider painting a multi-hued geometric pattern for added interest. By using Behr paints with paint and primer in one, designing an accent wall can be a quick project with major impact.

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Give the Garage a New Look

If you want to enhance your home’s curb appeal, a garage door refresh is one of the biggest-impact DIYs with paint you can find. Go for a new coat of exterior paint in the same hue for a more polished look or experiment with a contrast colour for an unexpected change.

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Dress up Your Dresser

Paint is one of the best ways to bring new life to old furniture

– and revamping a statement-making dresser with paint can transform your bedroom in an afternoon. Whether you have an old dresser that’s seen better days or you pick up a vintage piece, a DIY dresser makeover is simple. Prep and clean the piece (be sure to remove hardware and sand any uneven surfaces), prime and paint (go along with the grain of the wood) and add new hardware. By customizing the colour and hardware, your dresser will feel totally new.

cozy kitchen with blue cabinets, beige walls and white accents

Behr: Raffia Ribbon PPU7-20, Cameo White MQ3-32, Nypd N480-6

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Cabinet Makeover

New kitchen cabinets mean a major renovation – and a major expense. Instead, use paint for a cost-effective DIY transformation without replacing them. Paint that’s specially designed for cabinet, trim and woodwork, like BEHR PREMIUM® Interior Cabinet & Trim Enamel, will give you best results with excellent flow and levelling and a hard, durable finish. When it comes to DIY painting kitchen cabinets ideas, you can go classic with a clean coat of white paint or you can use paint to try out kitchen trends like brightly coloured cabinets or two-tone designs. Want a better idea of how they’ll look before you start? Behr’s Paint Your Place® tool lets you upload your own digital photos and preview colours.

elegant dining room interior with design sharing table, chairs, gold pedant lamp, abstract paintings and stylish accessories

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Channel Your Inner Artist

There’s nothing like a touch of art to pull together a room, but if expensive paintings aren’t in your budget, you can create your own masterpiece customized to your home’s colour palette. There are plenty of easy canvas painting ideas for beginners out there, but keep your level of artistic aptitude in mind before you start. If you’re new to painting, you’ll likely have more luck with abstract, minimalist DIY wall art (think a single-hue canvas painted in a complementary colour) or more abstract pieces. Or try your hand at upcycling to create a statement-making large DIY wall art piece – like this DIY project from Sebastian Clovis.

bedroom with double bed, cream-painted floorboards, brown wood panelled wall, white furniture and curtains

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Paint the Panels

Wood panels add a retro, rustic finish to walls, but there are times when you want to brighten them up or change the hue of the room – if so, don’t be afraid to paint (just be sure that you’re ready for the refresh, because once you’ve painted the wood, you can’t go back).

Minimalist modern work space at home with blackboard wall

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Chalk it Up

More than just for kids’ crafts, chalkboard painting ideas can add playful style and function to your home. Use chalkboard paint to create large DIY wall art or paint a small DIY accent wall in chalkboard paint to create a fun spot that you can change up with writing or hand-drawn art at any time.

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Shelve It

Built-in wall units and shelving already add function to your living room – but they’re also an opportunity to turn up the style. Use interior paint to create a contrast between shelving and surrounding wall colours or use different shades on shelves and the backing areas for a simple, yet striking way to create a bold juxtaposition.

table and plants on wooden shelf in white living room with green sofa against wall with leaves posters

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Paint the Bricks

Exposed brick walls make a style statement, but there are times when the contrast doesn’t quite align with your home decor aesthetic. In those instances, paint over them for a DIY solution that still uses the bricks’ natural texture (just be sure – as with wood panelling – that you’re certain you’re done with the natural brick before you start).